Local businesses asked to comment on Fife’s new economic strategy

Businesses across Fife are being invited to have their say on a new economic strategy that has been developed for the region.

Fife’s Economic Strategy 2017-27 sets out the way Fife Council, the Fife Economy Partnership and Opportunities Fife Partnership will work together over the next 10 years to achieve stronger, sustainable and more resilient economic growth for Fife’s businesses.

Businesses can comment on the new strategy online over the next few weeks. Their views will help the Council and the two Partnerships ensure that the new strategy has identified and will tackle the issues and challenges that Fife companies currently face.

Stephen Doran, Chair of the Fife Economy Partnership, said: “Moving forward we want to achieve more than simply a pre-recession level of economic performance for Fife. We want to tackle the underlying challenges in our economy and labour market in order to both increase the competitiveness and resilience of Fife’s businesses and at the same time reduce inequality.

“It’s important that we make sure that our new strategy includes appropriate activities for us to achieve this.

“The online questionnaire gives businesses an opportunity to tell us what they think of the new strategy. This will help us ensure that the Strategy’s Delivery Plans are tailored to meet their needs.

“We’re also wanting the business community to get more involved in helping to deliver our new economic strategy and are restructuring the Fife Economy Partnership to make this possible. We’d be delighted to hear from any business interested in becoming involved in one of the Partnership’s new delivery groups.”

Cllr Lesley Laird, Depute Leader of Fife Council and Spokesperson for Economy and Planning said: “Our new Strategy, approved yesterday by Fife Council’s Executive Committee, sets out how we will all work together, as well as with the Scottish Government, its national agencies and with our city region partners to achieve sustainable and fair economic growth for Fife.

“We’ve taken on board the issues businesses raised when we consulted with them earlier this year and this is a further opportunity for people to let us know what they think.

“Both the context and challenge for Fife in the foreseeable future is one of change. Collaboration and co-operation are vital for Fife’s economy to respond to the complex set of challenges that this change creates. We encourage all Fife’s businesses to get involved in helping to deliver the ambitions of this strategy and to work with us to deliver activities to make sure that Fife becomes the best place to start and grow a business.”

To have your say, complete the online survey http://bit.ly/2hMHl88

For more information about how to get involved in the Fife Economy Partnership’s new delivery groups and to register your interest in joining one of the groups, email [email protected].